Vol. 1 - Chapter 159 - Deep Conspiracy in the City

When Chen Tianjing and the others turned to leave, the younger members of the four great clans didn’t hesitate for long. Without waiting for instructions from their clan elders—none of whom had given any orders yet—they chose to follow behind. No one dared to fall behind or let the Chen clan slip away unnoticed.

In an instant, a sizeable group surged toward the city marketplace, grand and imposing in their momentum.

Just as Chen Tianjing’s party arrived at the trading square, several more figures appeared in a hurry.

They were not unfamiliar. Xie Hongyuan, Shi Jian, and a few others—buyers from the last blood rice sale—had returned. But this time, each was accompanied by an additional figure.

These newcomers were visibly older, faces worn by wind and time, with deep lines etched between their brows. Their attire and the deference shown to them by Xie Hongyuan and the others made it clear: these were not ordinary followers.

Even more striking was the air they carried—cultivation realms that could not be easily discerned, and a presence that made it impossible to underestimate them.

When Chen Tianjing and his companions noticed the four elders, their expressions subtly shifted.

It was clear these four were the clan elders of the four great clans, each possessing strength at the Innate Realm.

Even from this brief appearance, it was evident how deep the roots of the great clans in Yong’an City truly ran.

Still, Chen Tianjing and his group showed no panic. Calmly, they began unloading the goods from their carriage, arranging the merchandise in the middle of the square.

The elders, originally displeased by what seemed like a snub from the Chen clan, frowned. With the Zhou clan backing them, the Chen clan should have known better than to provoke them. After all, it was one’s own strength—not borrowed power—that decided everything in the end.

But when the elders noticed the other three great clans had also arrived, their irritation vanished, replaced by a trace of frustration.

So the Chen clan wasn’t acting on its own—clearly, the others had come for the same reason: the blood rice.

And just like that, the carefully laid plans of each clan began to ripple with unexpected variables.

Once the blood rice was spread out from its sacks, a subtle glow flickered in the eyes of the onlookers.

So this was blood rice.

As Innate Realm martial artists, they could clearly sense the blood essence hidden within the grains. One grain might hold little on its own—but a thousand catties?

Judging by the bags, the Chen clan had brought roughly that much.

If a clan could obtain the lot, their members below the Blood Coagulation Realm could raise their strength significantly in a short span of time. For a clan’s long-term development, that was no small matter.

At this moment, the same thought arose in every elder’s mind—this blood rice must be secured. Other goods, like the pelts and bones of fierce beasts, paled in comparison. Cultivation resources came first. The rest could wait.

However, as their gazes swept over the items on display, a particular wolf pelt caught their attention. These elders, experienced as they were, quickly recognized it for what it was: the hide of a wolf from the Innate Realm.

From the look of the drying and preservation, the beast had been slain only a few months ago.

Wolves, especially those of such strength, were rarely alone. That the Chen clan had taken one down—and managed to preserve its pelt so well—spoke volumes about their true capabilities.

Still, after a brief glance, none of the elders lingered on it. Such a pelt might be a nice addition, but it couldn’t compare to blood rice. Only rare, high-level Innate Beasts—those whose bodies held material suitable for refining high-grade weapons—could command higher value.

In truth, most Innate Realm beasts didn’t produce materials refined enough to be used for top-tier gear.

The elders turned their attention back to the rice. After a pause, the Xie clan elder stepped forward and broke the silence.

“How is this blood rice being sold?”

Though he had already heard the previous price from his clan, it cost him nothing to ask again.

A price the same as before would suggest the Chen clan had no ulterior motives.

But if the price were higher, it would imply they were relying on the Zhou clan’s backing to test the strength and resolve of the four great clans.

If that were the case, none of them would hesitate to remind the Chen clan that the Zhou clan was not invincible.

On the other hand, if the price had dropped, it could mean the Chen clan was weaker than they appeared—and perhaps their ties with the Zhou clan were not as close as assumed. In that case, the Chen clan might be trying to curry favor with the four clans, leaving more room for maneuvering.

Pricing strategy could reveal a great deal about their intentions—and how best to respond.

“Thirty jade coins per catty,” Chen Tianyu answered calmly. “If you bring items like Purple Ganoderma, Tian Nan Star, or Wind Immortal Flower, you can trade at market value for priority in purchasing.”

Before setting out, the clan’s elders had already convened and agreed: if the situation mirrored the previous sale, the pricing would remain unchanged. If tensions rose, they would adjust terms accordingly.

After all, the purpose of selling the blood rice was to gather other cultivation materials.

And judging by the situation now, the latter scenario had arrived. This strategy would give them flexibility in their exchanges.

The four clan elders showed no surprise at the price. Their expressions remained unreadable, but inwardly, they acknowledged this as a sound move.

Compared to jade coins, cultivation resources were far more valuable—unless one had access to higher-tier currency like Spirit Jade Coins or Blood Jade Coins.

Those, in themselves, were rare cultivation items.

And the fact that the price remained unchanged—thirty jade coins per catty—signaled that the Chen clan had no hidden agenda. They were not looking for trouble with the four great clans.

With that confirmed, their new objective was simple: purchase the blood rice. Later, they could explore opportunities to build relations with the Chen clan and acquire more.

But as Chen Tianyu finished speaking, a brief silence followed.

None of the elders responded immediately, leaving Chen Tianyu and the others mildly puzzled.

At last, the Xie clan elder spoke slowly:

“We have some reserves of Purple Ganoderma and Tian Nan Star, but as for the Wind Immortal Flower… I fear this amount of blood rice won’t be enough.”

Chen Tianjing frowned slightly. “Could you elaborate, Elder?”

The old man chuckled.

“The Wind Immortal Flower is a specialty of the Zhou clan from Yunmeng City. They hardly ever sell it, and even when a flower shows up, it fetches an exorbitant price.”

Chen Tianjing was visibly puzzled. “But didn’t I see one for sale at the Stone Warm Pavilion not long ago?”

“Hah!”

The Xie clan elder let out a loud laugh, then turned toward the Shi clan’s elder with an amused and mocking gaze.

“The Shi clan did obtain one Wind Immortal Flower once. But ask him now—is it still in the clan’s possession? Most likely, it’s already been consumed by one of their own. What they claim to be selling is just the Pavilion trying to save face.”

“Hmph! How do you know we don’t have a second one?” the Shi elder snapped, his voice cold.

But his tone lacked confidence—and that alone was telling.

Indeed, the only Wind Immortal Flower the Shi clan had acquired had long since been consumed. Ordinary people could never afford such an item anyway.

If customers ever inquired, they would simply be told it had already been sold, though the placard remained untouched.

Upon hearing this, Chen Tianjing and his group were momentarily stunned.

They had assumed jade coins would be enough to purchase a Wind Immortal Flower. Who would’ve thought there were so many hidden games at play in the city?

Judging by the elder’s reaction—and the silence of the others—it was clear the Xie elder hadn’t lied.

Which meant… the Chen clan likely couldn’t obtain a Wind Immortal Flower from any of the four great clans.

Even though the price at Stone Warm Pavilion had been steep, the Wind Immortal Flower had been near the top of their shopping list.

Now, it seemed, no ordinary jade coin could buy such a thing.

P.S. (In the previous chapter, the descriptions of Spirit Jade Coins and Blood Jade coins were slightly revised. Spirit Jade coins now contain a denser concentration of blood qi, which can be absorbed by Natural Realm martial artists to enhance their vitality. Blood Jade coins are more potent and can help Qi Refining Realm martial artists restore a portion of their vitality, though they require a larger quantity. Additionally, both types of jade coins replenish energy quickly, allowing them to be converted into combat power within a short time.)

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